The Ocean Institute’s new

Weather and Ocean Monitoring Program

developed in collaboration with the

Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System

Funded by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

Project Objectives

Assist with Broader Impact initiatives for emerging SCCOOS network

Develop a model program that employs SCCOOS data to assist students and teachers in meeting California State Science Standards

Project Overview

This integrated-discipline, standards-based program is designed to bring 5th grade students to the Ocean Institute to explore the science of weather and ocean monitoring.

Students learn about: meteorology currents water cycle investigation techniques current professional research and research equipment

They will develop research projects that employ data from SCCOOS buoys and will present their findings at the January Kids’ Conference on Weather and Ocean Monitoring.

Program Objectives & Links to Content Standards

Students will learn about the life and earth sciences of the Southern California area, use data from SCCOOS buoys to conduct a research project, and communicate their findings to their peers. Given the five components of the Ocean Institute Weather and Ocean Monitoring Program, students will be able to:

1. Use equipment and maps to understand and forecast weather (Science Standards, Grade 5, 3. & 4.).

2. Explain the role of phytoplankton in the ocean food web (Science Standards, Grade 4, 2.a & 2.b, Grade 5, 2.f. & 2.g.).

3. Explain the relationship between wave energy and sand movement (Science Standards, Grade 4, 5.c.).

4. Design and conduct a quality research project (Science Standards, Grade 5, Investigation and Experimentation; Mathematics Standards, Grade 5, Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability Standard 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5).

5. Present the findings of their research projects at the Ocean Institute’s annual Kids’ Conference on Weather and Ocean Monitoring

(Science Standards, Grade 5; 6.i.; English/Language Arts Standards, Grade 5, Writing Standard 2.3; Grade 5, Listening and Speaking 1.0).

Program Components

1) Information MeetingSelected teachers receive information on the program and are invited to an information meeting.

2A) Teacher In-service Participating teachers come to the Ocean Institute to be introduced to the program, learn about ocean monitoring, weather buoys, SCCOOS, receive ideas on preparing students for their field trip, and get information on how to help students develop a testable question and conduct scientific research.

2B: Student Preparation

Students, in their classrooms, are prepared to participate in the Ocean Institute Field Program (Component Three). Teachers employ a series of classroom activities to prepare the students for Ocean Monitoring Day. Classroom activities integrate all disciplines, and teachers receive ongoing support from Ocean Institute staff.

Support from Ocean Institute Includes:• Resource Notebook• Classroom Kit • WebQuests for each recommended research

topic• Classroom visits from Ocean Institute Staff to

help with research project development and implementation

Component 3: Student Field Trip

Students come to the Ocean Institute for a four-hour field trip that includes a two-hour laboratory program where they will learn how to use data from the SCCOOS network and practice research techniques. They will acquire the skills to develop a testable question and design a research project.

Students will also spend two hours on the R/V Sea Explorer where they will visit working buoys and participate in a series of activities that introduce them to the ways in which data can be used to increase our knowledge of systems and interactions.

Field Trip: Laboratory Program

Station #1: CDIP Buoy Data and Beach Erosion

Station #2: Buoy Data and Harmful Algal Blooms

Station #3: CDIP Buoy Data and Hazards

Field Trip: Cruise

Station #1: Buoy Data and Water Quality with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)

Station #2: Buoy Data and Search and Rescue

Station #3: Buoy Data and Living Resources with the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI)

Program Components

Component 4): Independent Research. Students work with classroom teacher to develop a testable question and research plan. Students spend 2 1/2 months developing a testable question, selecting appropriate tools, conducting an investigation using data from buoys, recording data, drawing conclusions, and writing their investigation report. Teachers and students receive ongoing support from Ocean Institute staff.

Component Five: Kids’ Conference on Weather and Ocean Monitoring

Students return to the Ocean Institute for a 4-hour Kids’ Conference on Weather and Ocean Monitoring to present their research to their peers. Student presentations will be in poster, video, or computer-based multimedia

format.

Weather and Ocean Monitoring Program

Preliminary findings:

a) Working with teachers and students on a data intensive project will require better motivational tools and easier to use SCCOOS interfaces.

b) 5th grade Project will need to further simplify materials and more tightly focus on grade level standards